The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-09

unto the dead that they would receive
it and live according to goodness in the
spirit, that they might be Judged &C
cording to the works done for
them by men in the flesh. !"
We will perceive by this explanation
given by the Prophet Joseph that it
reflects understanding upon our minds,
clearer in relation to the ordinances in
behalf of the dead: That as many Of
the dead unto whom the gospel is
preached receive it and live according
to goodness in the spirit world, that
they may be judged according to the
ordinances and works performed for
them by their kindred or their heirs
Ia the flesh. In other words, that the
Lord would receive in tGeir behalf the
Uut%ard ordinances. confirmation act,
administered by the living in behalf of
their dead, who are their heirs or kin
bred on the earth, or their friends
officiating for them and IN their behalf
in these outward ordinances. That i'll
a>lnuch as they receive the gospel and
live according to Cool ness so
Ia spirit they will reap the
benefits by tAe foundation that is
laid for them by men in the flesh,
officia ting in these outward ordinances
and doing for them those things which
they cannot do for tn mselves.
This then affords an anation, or
answer, rather, to st. PauPs question,
in relation to baptism for tie dead !:
Why are ye baptized for the
9ead?" Peter afforded an answer:
That they might be judged according
to men in the flesh, lnasmuch as they
n IN, he
spirit"
This is the doctrine of the gospel for
the dead-the doctrine for the redemp-
ton OF the deadAat the time of the
coming of the Son of Mantle time of
the restitution of all things. The time
when he shall come and open the prison
doors of them that are bound and open
the door OF the resurrection to all
such. 1t may be termed the
second fruits of the resurrection. The
first fruits are those who are Christ s,
then afterwards they who are Christ's
at his coming.
This is a bold doctrine which the
Latter day Saints have received; and
they have received it as it was revealed
unto the Prophet Joseph; and this we
understand TO be the result of the keys
of the holy priesthood which Elijah,
the prophet. held and which he would
restore and has committed to the
Prophet Joseph Smith in this dispense
ton, and introduced on earth in this
dispensation the keys and powers of
salvation for the redemption of the
dead-to turn the hearts OF the fathers
to the children and the hearts of the
children toward their fathers. In tn
last chapter of the book of Malachi
Reference is made this subjec THAT be
fore the great aud terrlbl Gay of the
Lord shall come, he will send again
Elijah the prophet to til n the hearts OF
the fathers TO the children ard the
heart of their cbiOrt n TO their ia, herr
lest the earth be SUI item with curse
and in explaining this particular sub
ject. Joseph Smith said the key of
Elijah, or the keys Of the priesthood,
which were held by Elijah, especially in
relation to the redemption of The dead,
when he was engaged in prayer in the
b lily pIs"e prepared for that purpose in
the Kirkland ZEN pie, Ohio. soon,
alter tue dedication OF that Temple
that there appear unto him Moses
and Elijah, each committing unto him
ali the kevs pertaining to their dispen-
satIuns and the powers each had been
for the restoration and REDEEM ption OF
tue House of Israel, TO the lands of
their fathers and the KEYS OF Elijah to
to turn the minds and hearts of the
people to the work nf the REDEEM p'ion
OF the dead, and turn the hearts of
fathers TO the children and the hearts
of the children to the fathers. And
now IS this brought abO1t? First, b..
revealing the principles OF the re-
demptiOh Of the dead. this doctrine
of preaching the gospel 10 the
spirits n prison and the doctrine of
building temples and officiating therein
By the living for and III behalf of the
dead. These we're given TO Joseph
Smith and knowledge of how 10 build
q haptismal font wherein he said it is
place sppoiRted OF God; for this is in he
basement of the temple uDderne cath
where the living are wont 10 assemble,
that while the hving are being baptized
for sDd IN behalf OF the desd-the font
the grsve-thereby set
forth the work of the living for the dead
come ting the living with the
ad and that these things
belonged to the temple of God.
For this purpose were tempt g built
and the "braz3n ses" in the
tempis OF Solomon, cOrresponded 10
the baptlsmal iont IN the temples being
built by appointment Of God among the
La ,ter-day Saints.
Now Joseph Smith preached this doc
trine TO the living, and after his death
be went and preached it TO the spirits
who are in prison. And so have ali the
elders OF Israel who have lived right
eous Ives, msgnitied their csllings and
in their priesthood TO the
living, after death, being organized, T.
believe. as the church hare and set to
work in their missionary ls1Hr- IN the
spirit world, TO carry the gUs pei TO their
fathers whose spirits were IN prison.
Now the idea or term IF prison is not
to be undersg0od in the limited sense
by the knowledge OF the per" up
here on the bench, or some other Il /
tied, contracted building as We ind here
on earth for CT minals; but the ides Of
prison ls simply place where bounds
are set, around and bevond which
their spirits cannot pass-a place allos-
ted 10 lhem from which they have no
power of escape; aud no matter how
eXteL siVe it is IN space, nor whether Il
be IN one place or more, it is in the ma
ture of a prison, because it is in. the ma
ture of confinement within limited
sphere and in that LIGHT and sense it
may be said that we ara here impris-
0ned in a seuse so long as our spirits